The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-07

A Large Amount OF Money Stolen from the
Adams Express Company Rccovered-Wit-
rocks Mother Makes an Apparently truth
fnl Statement
LEAyENwoRTH, Kan, Dec 29-IJetective
Pinkerton came to this city yesterday in re-
sponsc to a summons from Mrs WitrocE
Sim Cummings" mother, who informed
Pinkerton that she had important informa-
ton for him. When Pinkerton arrived at
Mrs RitTock's house he was handed express
packages confirming $22 900 in currency,
which WitTock had sent TO his family after
the robbery. The money had not been dis
turbad aud was in the original wrappers IL
Is supposed that Witrock. during one of his
visits 10 this city. md large sums of the
money stolen, and that he will now turn ir
over TO the detectives There have already
been recovered of the stolen money about
$4,000 WItrock's mother in an interview
admitted that Fred had participated in the
robbery. She said:
Shortly after the robbery Oscar Cook came
20 Leayenwurth and visited her, and said Fred
was in trouble. that he had made n large sum OF
money on a wheat deal IN Chicago and had some
difficulty With broker over the matter, which
ended by nim shoe ing the latter; that he had
10 flee from the country, and wanted his mother
10 take care OF the mony until she heard from
him further. This she agreed to do. and the
money was left In her possession Some time
after this, another young man who lives IN this
civ, but whose Identity she refused TO divulge,
called and left another package OF money, Enu,
on two other occasions two other young men
they said had come from Fred. when heard
OF Fred's arrest Immediately wrote TO the
press company telling them Of the money, and
requesting them TO come TO Leavenworth. and
that Is undoubtedly why they are here
Robert Pinkerton fully exoncrated Mrs
Witrock and family, saying they had only
done what others would do under
the circumstances He corroborated Mrs
Witrock's story.
LEAyGNwogrH, Dec 3O-Mrs witrock, the
mother OF Jim Cummings was seen last
night She was anxious that the public
should know the real cause OF the robbery.
She said:
She had wondered from the first what
prompted the robbery, and the first question she
asked her son after he had been brought to his
home By the detectives was: WHY did you
take the money!" He answered that no was
greatly worried because tho time was growing
so short when tho mortgage on her home to Sc
cure 81, 700 that she had borrowed and loaned
to him, would become due. and he was not maxi
ing money enough out Of his business to pay
her. So, instead OF allowing tho homestead to
90 to sale, he made up his mind to make . des-
peEate effort TO save IL, and finally decided upon
the plan OF robbmg the express car
Specials from Leavenworth and Kansas
City state that Oscar Cook made a confession
yesterday, in which he stated that Fother-
ingham, the express messenger, knew all
about the plan To rob his car. aud was will
ing victim 10 the attack OF the robber Ii
was said that no was promised $4,000 OF
the amount stolen as his share of the booty,
and that rum was part OF the money which
Fred Witrock sent 10 his mother for safe
keeping.
MONEY RECOVERED IN CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, Dec. 30-Two thousand dollars
OF the money stolen by the Adams Express
robbers was recovered here today. The
money was obtained from a Chicago printer
whose name is withheld by the detectives
He printed the official letter heads OF the
Adams Express company, by means OF
which Witrock gained admission TO the ex-
press car The printer says:
Witrock approached him with tho request to
do this work. Witrock explained that IL would
enable him TO obtain passes on which he could
travel ali over the country Suspecting nothing
criminal. the printer complied. shorty after
has kept intact. knowing 1t must have been part
of the proceeds OF the robbery The money has
been a load on his mind ever since ne came into
possession OF It, and he is happy to get rid Of IT,
KANSAS Cry, Dec. 30-Supt Damsel, OF
the Adams Express company, arrived here
this morning with Mrs j. Haight, on the
strength of a confession made by Haight
He brought Information which Robert Pink
erton acted upon by going to Leayenworth.
There he recovered $1,000, which was
found buried In sealed cams Mr. Pinkerton
returned here tonight It is reported that
MIRA Haight was taken from Lcavenworth to
tchison this evening
MORE MONEY RECOVERED.
KANSAS CRY, Dec. 29-Robert Pinkerton
Is engaged in recovering more of the stolop
money. IL has been found that o consider
able amount was distributed here among
Cooks friends in sums ranging from $500 to
$1,000. lot Of bank notes were found
concealed in beer bottles under the house OF
John Cox in the East bottoms, where Cook
boarded and Witrock stayed while here An
other portion was found under a house op-
posite that of Cooks father. and Jack Cook,
Oscars brother, gave up 81 900 that he had.
There are rumors Of some further arrests 70
be made.
CINCINNATI, Doc. 29-Col L O. Weir, su.
perintendent of the Adams Express COM
pany, states that the amount stolen last o.
tober was between $S1 900 and So, 900.
CHICAGO. Dec CIV. A Pinkerton TO-
night stated that he had secured information
as to the whereabouts Of all the money
stolen by the Frisco train robbers The por-
ton not captured In Chicago and Leayen'
worth was buried In i've different states
Each of the locations has been designated by
WitrOck.